Headlamp shield



1,635 879 July 1927' s. F. ARBUCKLE HEADLAMP SHIELD Filed March 10, 1924 I 24 3 ,fl 1 ,4 y

smumvw INVENTOR Samuel F AA) CHE ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1927.

serum. 1'. mums, or Damon, moment,

-- roll-Arron, or raw roux, n. in.

A CORPORATION 01' nmwm 08181111 application fled January as,

This invention relates to a head lam shield for preventing upward radiation of light rays from the lamp. My invention further relates to shielding means usable in 5 connection with a head lam which eliminates secondary reflection. he invention relates also to a type of shield for head lamps usable within replacement reflectors itioned within the original reflectorof a ead lamp. This application is a division of the copending a plication of Samuel F.

Arbuckle and Carl Brockway, Serial No. 688 947, filed January 28, 1924.

The practice has arisen in the manufacture of head lamps, to employ as a means for diffusing the direct and reflected rays emerging from a reflector of a head lamp,

a lens molded in such a manner that the light is refracted, the various rays inter- 2 *m1xing in such a manner as-to eliminate, to

a large extent, a concentrated brilliancy of light, as observed from in front of the re- -flector. This method of diffusin the light beams is, however, of little va lie to the driver of a vehicle when the vehicle upon which .the head lamp is placed is movin through heavy mist or fog, as the forwardly projected light rays, es ecially those direct i rays travellm above a orizontal plane 1n- SO cludin the axis of the reflector, are reflected from t e small particles of mist upwardly and rearwardly, thus causing a bar to vision above and around the head lamp which seriously interferes with the operation of the 85 vehicle. There has recently arisen also, the practice of sup lyin anew reflecting surface to a head lamp y means of a replacement reflector placed within the tarnished or worn original reflector. In view of the fact that the lamp bulb in the replacement is necessarily of a focus in relation to the original reflector, and because of the fact that it is desirable that the replacement reflector be shallow, a portion of the light rays in a band adjacent the lower edge of the original reflector, are reflected upwardly, thus intensifying the confusion present when a the vehicle is moving in fog. One of the important objects of my invention, therefore, 1s to provide means for cutting off such rays of the light source in a head lamp which cause secondary reflection in fog, and thus diminishing driving efli-- ciency. Another object is to provide means 1., 01111 I0. 8,847. Divided 10, 1004. Serial 10. 690,011.

tions of the same, g illustrated in the accompanying drawings in ing to the reflecting surfaces 0 and this application M larch p for cutting off such light rays as will permitelimination of the lens type of light refracting means, and the use of a plain glass in front of the reflector. I Another object of my. invention is to provide a light shielding de- V108 which may be used in conjunction with a" replacement reflector and in connection therewith, prevent the emergence of u wardly directed light rays in front of e head lamp. Still another object of the invention is to provide a light shield which may be effectively employed in connection with reflectors having surfaces which are ribbed to cause lateral reflection of the light rays and prevent what is known as glare.

Further objects are contemplated in the employment of simplified means for securing a light shielding means to a head lamp which may be manufactured at a minimum cost, and which may be adapted to an type of head lamp now in common use. arious other objects will become apparent also on consideration of a description of an embodiment of my invention and various modificaherewith presented and which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectionthrough a head lamp showing the invention as applied to a lamp bulb;

Fig. 2 is a view of a modified method of attachment of the light shielding device and Fig. 3 is a second modification of the shield. Y

The invention, broadly stated, consists in the application to an electric lamp bulb" or similar light source within the reflector of a head lamp, of a light impervious shield made, for example, of metal having a conformation approximately that of a sector of a sphere, and so positioned in front of the light, that light rays emerging from the li ht and passing in an upwardly and outwardly direction, are intercepted, the li ht rays pass= the reflector, however, and those direct rays passing outwardly and downwardly being unobstructed. A feature of the invention also is the utilization of a second shield continuous with the main shield which is adapted to prevent upward reflection from the outer rim of an original reflector when the light source is in focus with a renlacement reflector positioned in the original reflector. 7

assumes 'rouonoam ml coa- Another feature of the invention is the employment of a base connection when attached to replacement reflectors wh ch will permit, ready rotation and axial ad us tm ent.

Referrin to Fig. 1 of the drawm there is shown a ead'lamp casing within which is positioned an original reflector 11 and a replacement reflector 12. The casing 10 and original reflector 11 are connected b means of central tubing 13, positioned in short tubes 14 and inte 1 respectively with the casing 14 and re ector 11, the tube 14 extending forwardly within the casing toward the reflector, and the tube 15 extending rearwardly toward the casing and n alignment with the tube 14. The tube 13 is movable axially within the tubes 14 and 15 means of a screw 16 havin screw-threadconnection with a lug 17 f ed to the tube 13. A sprin 18 is positioned about the screw 16 and ars against the lug 17 and casing 10 to maintain the tube at the hunt of movement away from the casing 10. As shown in the figure, the lug 17 has movement in a slot 19 formed in the casing tube 14.

The tube 13 is ada ted to carry the vanous contacts intermediate the lamp and the current source. There is shown an electric circuit cord 20 in engagement with a plug 21, said plug having a ba onet connection 22 with the end of the tu 13. The forward end of the tube 13 is bayonet slotted to receive the base 39 of the lamp bulb 40 or the auxiliary tube which is adapted to housed in connection with the replacement reflector 12. The center of this tube 45 is enlarged to form a socket 48 which is externallv threaded, and adjacent its inner end,

- is slotted to form forwardly extending finrs 49, the ends 50 of which are outturned.

he socket 48 is adapted also to form the retaining means for the replacement reflector 12.

The connection between the re lacement reflector and the socket is provide for in a rin member 51 which is positioned on the soc et adjacent the outturned ends 50 of the flexible fingers 49. The reflector 12 apertured at its center is adapted to be clamped against member 51 by means of the nut 52 and intermediate washer 53. Additional holdin means for the reflector also is provided 2 01- in a flexible annular member 54, having a flat central portion 55 and outwardly and rearwardly extendin flexible plates 56, the ends of which are a apted to contact against the surface of the original reflector 11. A nut 57 'tioned on the socket 48 is adapted to ho d the member 54 in position and serve also as a lock nut member with the nut 52. It is evident that by rotating the nut 52, the member 51 is forced toward the cam surfaces 50 at the ends of the fingers 49, thus clamping the replacement reflector 12 securely in engagement on the socket 48,-and also clamping :the. base of the lam in position. The forward edge of the rep acement reflector 12 is also outturned to form a radial band 90 whichma contact with the surface of the reflector 1 althou h such contact is not essential in view of the olding means previousl described.

Within the reflector 12 the amp bulb 40 is laced. The base 39 of the 1113p 40 is enc sed by the halves of an axi y plit shell 60, the thickness of the shellbemg approximately equal to the length of the ins projectin from the-base of the lamp. he object 0? this construction is to permit rotational adjustment of the lamp, independent of the position of the pins which, according to conventional engineerin ractice, are resent on the bases of all i amp bulbs. T e halves of the shell 60 are connected to the shield-61 by means of side straps 62, as shown in Fig. 1. The shield 61 is a shell in the form of a section of the surface of a sphere, one ed e of the section lying in aplane paral el to and below the horizontal plane including'the axis of the reflector and the light source, and the other edg e71 lying in a vertical plane transverse to the reflector axis and each int thereof, lyin in a line including the ight source and t e edge of the re lacement reflector 12. The ed 71 of t e section is extended in a band 2 joining the two ends.

of the section and having apredetermined width such that liglllit rays emergin from the light source m be cut oil ont he exposed portion of the original reflector adjacent the outer edge thereof. It is apparent from this description that there is an open-' ing 73 intermediate the band 72 and section 61 through which light rays may. emerge in a forwardly and downwardly direction as indicated by the light ray 74 in;the drawing.

It is pointed out that the depth of the replacement reflector 12 is-less than that of the reflector 11, there being an exposed rtion of the original reflector 11 intermediate the glass plate 84 and the flange 90,- this construction being such as has been found by investigation and experiment, to give best results with a minimum of cost and material. The presence, however, of this annular reflecting exposed ortion of the reflector 11 makes requisite t e provision of means for preventing upward reflection from the same, inasmuch as since the source of light, when a replacement reflector is em loyed, is moved forwardly out of the. loca plane of the original reflector, and, consequently, light rays striking the reflector from the lamp sourcewill not emerge in'a parallel direction, but will be deflected toward the. axis ,ofthe reflector. This condition has been met in the provision of the impervious shield 72 extending below the section.61,,and also I; the position of the shield itself, the vertie5= and the necessity that the plane of the lamp edge of which, as previously indicated, 1 ing on lines drawn from the center of the light source to the edge of the replacement reflector thereby cutting of! all lightrays tendto pass be 0nd the reflector edge.

11 use the s ield is positioned on the lamp bulb as shown in Fi 1, and the lamp bul and replacementre ector clamped in. sition b manipulation of the nuts 52 an 57 and a so where necessary, by adjustment of the screw 16. The edge 17 of the lamp shield is positioned in a horizontal plane, and when the lamp is in proper position, the center of the light source is, for all practical urposes, at the focus of the replacement reector 12. When the light source is energized, li ht rays will emerge in all directions. ose rays, however, passing outwardly within bounds defined y the lower ed e and upper edge .71 of the shield'61, and rays passing downwardly within the bounds determined by the band 72 are cut off, the remaining rays being reflected from the reflector and passing out in a arallel direction, or passm out downwar l and forwardly through t e opening73 to i luminate the driveway directly ahead of the lamp. It is thus seen that illumination is secured sufiicient for ordinary needs, and that the elimination of all rays which are projected in an upwardly direction directly from the light source as well as such rays as emerge in a forward direction in the lane of the light source is accomplished. ince it is light rays of the type cut ofi which cause the secondary reflectionv and difiusion of light from ground mist and fog, the elimination of these rays permits greatly in creased visibility in the operation of the vehicle under such conditions, without hinder-' ing the employment of all light which is usuable for direct illumination of the passage way.

The invention has been described particularly in relation to a replacement reflector for head lamps, and in such relationship it has a well defined utility. As previously indicated, one of its important. functions in this connection is to cut off such rays as would tend to be reflected from the original reflector and thus cause improper lightdiffusement. Moreover, inconnection with the specific holding means of the shields, it is particularly adapted for easy adjustment relative to the reflector. In ordinary illumination, the filament of the lamp should lie in a horizontal plane, and the edge 70 of the shield should he in a plane approximately arallel to the plane of the lamp filament. In addition, where the secondary reflector is of the type which is intended to reflect the light rays in vertical zones to eliminate glare of employing retracting lens in front of the reflector, it is requisite filament should 'nections other than with have-a dividing the vertical zones of the reflector in order to get the proper light distribution. This ready v :neans, as in this connection, is very advan a us. 7 e invention, however, is usuable in con-- :1 replacement refiector. I have shown in Fig. 2 the a plication of the invention to alamp bulb pflic'ed in an originalreflector in the ordinary manner. In this modification, the sector 61 band 72, and the corresponding ositionot the lower edge 70 and identical to that of the shield construction of 1, the difi'erence in this modification resi mg only in the means of attachment. Instead of providing bands engaging the'base of the lamp as in the modification of Fig. 1', the holding means consists in bands 95 extendm from the shield axially for a ortion ofthe istance about the lamp bulb, t e ends gt time samebeing slightly outturned'. The

an rial, will yieldingly hold the shield in proper position on the lamp bulb and ermit the insertion oflthe same in the or inary way in the original reflector of the lamp. The standard connections between the current source 20, and the lamp 40. are employed in the modification of Fig. 2. Fig.3 discloses a still different modification 111 which the lamp bulb 40 carries a shield 100 painted or otherwise fixed to the surface of the bulb in proper relationship with the lamp filament. tlon I have shown an attaching means adaptposition at right angles to. the planes adjustment of the shield'holding upper e ge-71, are I being flexible metal or similar mate- In this modificaed to be employed in inserting the lamp in a replacement reflector for example, a shell, 1 01, opposite sides of which are split for a portion of its length, the splits terminating 1n holes 102 adapted to receive the pins of the lamp base, this attachment permitting, as indicated in connection with Fig. 1, a rotational adjustment of the lamp within the replacement reflector socket. The base edge 102 of the sector shield 100 of Fig. 3 is shown as lying in the axial plane of the lamp and it should be understood that it is within the confines of the invention to vary the lower limiting boundary of the reflector from the plane including the axis of the re flector, to planes beneath such axis as in Fig 1, depending upon the engineering requiremen'ts.

Byothe construction of the lamp shield, as a greatsimplicity for cuttingout light rays from a lamp which hinder visibility to the driver of a vehicle and also cause dangerous glare to a pedestrian or driver of another vehicle approaching, without at the same time materially diminishing the total illuve noted, there is provided means of .in a plate in front of the bulb an ofl the light rays to the reflector, these rays being reflected outwardl wlthout hmdrance as in the ordinary amp. B the construction described, also, an exce ingly sim 1e means of holding a lamp shield in position, of forming a connection with a relacement reflector, and of permitting adustment of the lamp, the shield, and the reflector relative to each other is provided which has important utilit in the field to which the invention is app icable.

Various modifications of the invention, other than those indicated will be apparent to those skilled in this art, and it is therefore desired to cover the invention broadly as well as specifically as indicated by the claims hereto a pended.

Havin thus ascribed my invention, what isclaime is:

1. A light shield for lamp bulbs comprising a plate in front of the bulb having a conformation corresponding to that of the bulb with a base edge below the lamp filament axis, said plate being attached directly to the lamp;

2. A light s ield for lamp bulbs com risated to and supported thereby having a conformation corresponding to that of the 30 bulb with a base edge below the lamp filament axis, and a curvilinear up redge 3. In combination, a headlamp comprismg a casing; an innerreflector within the casing; an outer reflector within the casing concentric relative to said inner reflector; a lamp bulb positioned within the inner reflcctor; and light shielding-means attached in front of said bulb having a conformation ada ted to prevent the emission of upwardly irected direct rays from the lamp bulb and upwardly directed reflected rays from the outer reflector.

A light shield for a lamp bulb comprlsing a plate adapted to be positioned in front of t e bulb and having a conformation corresponding to that of the bulb, a retaining band attached to the edge of said plate and formin with said plate an a rture for the emission of light rays an resilient arms extending from said piate, said arms being adapted to engage the lam bulb u on which the shield is position and yieldably retain the shield in position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE. 

